The Turkish Verb - The Infinitive

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 07:56

THE INFINITIVE - a grammatical description

In grammar, the infinitive is the form of a verb that has no inflection to indicate person, number, mood or tense.
It is called the infinitive because the verb is usually not made finite, or limited by inflection.
The infinitive is often used as the citation form, as for many languages this is the basic form of a verb which is usually presented in dictionaries.
In language classes, children are sometimes taught to think of it as the name of the verb.

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 07:57

The Infinitive is the name of a verb, therefore per se it is a noun. This is characterized in English by the word - to - ie to walk, to swim.

The Turkish Infinitive has four forms of the infinitive, all of which can be used as nouns and can therefore take case endings and personal pronouns when required. The Standard Infinitive ending in -mek or -mak

If we say in English - she is starting to write - then the Infinitive yazmak - to write - is the object of the verb - she is starting ... - and consequently must be suffixed to show its relationship to the verb.

As the verb başlamak - to start, begin - signifies movement of some sort it governs the Dative Case in Turkish -a or -e.

To effect the addition of the dative suffix to yazmak the final -k of -mek or -mak is dropped and the resulting verbal noun - yazma - is treated as a normal object in the Dative by the addition of the suffix -ya standard dative buffer letter -y- :
yazmak - to write - becomes yazmaya başladı - she started to (to) write

It should be noted that we also use The Present Continuous Participle in -ing - (another noun) while translating in English so the above is often rendered in the following manner: yazmak - to write - becomes yazmaya başladı - she started writing

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 07:57

Special Case - istemek - to want

The verb istemek - to want - is a special case as it causes no modification of the verb it governs:

yazmak istiyorum - I want to write
içmek isterler - they want to drink
kalmak istemedin - you didn't want to stay
çalışmak istemeyecekler - they will not want to work

Note that this also applies in English - we also cannot say - I want writing - or - they want drinking.

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 07:59

Adding Suffixes to the Standard Infinitive in -mek

As the infinitive is a noun - then it can be suffixed with any of the case suffixes. We are taking for our model the Positive Infinitive - gelmek - to come - and the Negative Infinitive gelmemek - not to come.

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 08:00

Formation of the Short Infinitive Verbal Noun

To effect the addition of the suffixes to the infinitive - as an example içmek, the final -k of -mek or -mak is dropped and the resulting verbal noun then ends in -ma or -me becoming içme in this case. It is treated as a normal object in the Accusative by the addition of the suffix -yi etc. - thus becoming - içmeyi - (içme-y-i uses buffer letter -y-).

Similarly the Dative Object is formed in the same manner: The Infinitive - yazmak - to write - forms Verbal Noun - yazma - the writing - thence forms the Dative Object - yazmaya - to the writing.

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 08:00

Example of Verbal Nouns in English

Unfortunately we do not realize when we are using Verbal Nouns - but if you want to understand Turkish both written and spoken then we must learn to recognize them.

Some examples of English Verbal Nouns

The writing is on the wall.
The drinking of this water is prohibited.
Smoking is allowed.
Leave your suitcase in the the waiting room.
He is working in the drying shed.

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 08:01

A note about Conversational Stress

This could be mixed up with the negation suffix -me but the difference is hidden in the stress.

When it is a Positive Verbal Noun then the stress is on itself as in - içMEyi.

However when it is a Negative Verbal Noun, then the stress is on the preceding syllable - İÇmemeyi.

We are already aware the negative suffix -me/-ma - itself is never stressed in conversation but always throws the stress on to the previous syllable.

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 08:01

Examples of Suffixed Infinitives

Note that Vowel Harmony and Consonant Mutation rules are followed when adding the standard suffixes - also the buffer letter -y- is used to keep vowel suffixes apart.

gelmeye çalıştı - he tried (to) to come - (Dative Suffix as an Object as the verb çalışmak takes a Dative Object = to try to..)
yüzmeyi severim - I like (the) swimming - I like to swim
onu yapmaktayım - I am just doing it - in/at doing it
sigara içmeyi bıraktım - I have given up (the) smoking - (Accusative Suffix as a Direct Object)

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 08:01

The Extended Infinitive Forms

Positive

gelmek - to come
gelmeye - to come
gelmeyi - to come (obj.)
gelmekte - in coming

gelmekten - from coming
gelmekle - by/with coming

Negative

gelmemek - not to come
gelmemeye - to not to come
gelmemeyi - not to come (obj.)
gelmemekte - in not coming
gelmemekten - from not comimg
gelmemekle - by/with not coming

**SERDEM** · 09.09.08, 08:02

The use of the various infinitive forms is best shown by example:

Kesmeyi bıraktı - He stopped (the) cutting
Sürmeyi öğreniyorum - I am learning (the driving) to drive
Gülmemeye çalışıyorlar - They are trying not to (to) laugh

Konu Bilgileri
	Konu Başlığı The Turkish Verb - The Infinitive	Konudaki Cevap Sayısı 13
	Şuan Bu Konuyu Görüntüleyenler	Görüntülenme Sayısı 2173

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09.09.08, 07:57	#2 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	The Infinitive is the name of a verb, therefore per se it is a noun. This is characterized in English by the word - to - ie to walk, to swim. The Turkish Infinitive has four forms of the infinitive, all of which can be used as nouns and can therefore take case endings and personal pronouns when required. The Standard Infinitive ending in -mek or -mak If we say in English - she is starting to write - then the Infinitive yazmak - to write - is the object of the verb - she is starting ... - and consequently must be suffixed to show its relationship to the verb. As the verb başlamak - to start, begin - signifies movement of some sort it governs the Dative Case in Turkish -a or -e. To effect the addition of the dative suffix to yazmak the final -k of -mek or -mak is dropped and the resulting verbal noun - yazma - is treated as a normal object in the Dative by the addition of the suffix -ya standard dative buffer letter -y- : yazmak - to write - becomes yazmaya başladı - she started to (to) write It should be noted that we also use The Present Continuous Participle in -ing - (another noun) while translating in English so the above is often rendered in the following manner: yazmak - to write - becomes yazmaya başladı - she started writing

09.09.08, 07:57	#3 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	Special Case - istemek - to want The verb istemek - to want - is a special case as it causes no modification of the verb it governs: yazmak istiyorum - I want to write içmek isterler - they want to drink kalmak istemedin - you didn't want to stay çalışmak istemeyecekler - they will not want to work Note that this also applies in English - we also cannot say - I want writing - or - they want drinking.

09.09.08, 07:59	#4 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	Adding Suffixes to the Standard Infinitive in -mek As the infinitive is a noun - then it can be suffixed with any of the case suffixes. We are taking for our model the Positive Infinitive - gelmek - to come - and the Negative Infinitive gelmemek - not to come.

09.09.08, 08:00	#5 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	Formation of the Short Infinitive Verbal Noun To effect the addition of the suffixes to the infinitive - as an example içmek, the final -k of -mek or -mak is dropped and the resulting verbal noun then ends in -ma or -me becoming içme in this case. It is treated as a normal object in the Accusative by the addition of the suffix -yi etc. - thus becoming - içmeyi - (içme-y-i uses buffer letter -y-). Similarly the Dative Object is formed in the same manner: The Infinitive - yazmak - to write - forms Verbal Noun - yazma - the writing - thence forms the Dative Object - yazmaya - to the writing.

09.09.08, 08:00	#6 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	Example of Verbal Nouns in English Unfortunately we do not realize when we are using Verbal Nouns - but if you want to understand Turkish both written and spoken then we must learn to recognize them. Some examples of English Verbal Nouns The writing is on the wall. The drinking of this water is prohibited. Smoking is allowed. Leave your suitcase in the the waiting room. He is working in the drying shed.

09.09.08, 08:01	#7 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	A note about Conversational Stress This could be mixed up with the negation suffix -me but the difference is hidden in the stress. When it is a Positive Verbal Noun then the stress is on itself as in - içMEyi. However when it is a Negative Verbal Noun, then the stress is on the preceding syllable - İÇmemeyi. We are already aware the negative suffix -me/-ma - itself is never stressed in conversation but always throws the stress on to the previous syllable.

09.09.08, 08:01	#8 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	Examples of Suffixed Infinitives Note that Vowel Harmony and Consonant Mutation rules are followed when adding the standard suffixes - also the buffer letter -y- is used to keep vowel suffixes apart. gelmeye çalıştı - he tried (to) to come - (Dative Suffix as an Object as the verb çalışmak takes a Dative Object = to try to..) yüzmeyi severim - I like (the) swimming - I like to swim onu yapmaktayım - I am just doing it - in/at doing it sigara içmeyi bıraktım - I have given up (the) smoking - (Accusative Suffix as a Direct Object)

09.09.08, 08:01	#9 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	The Extended Infinitive Forms Positive gelmek - to come gelmeye - to come gelmeyi - to come (obj.) gelmekte - in coming gelmekten - from coming gelmekle - by/with coming Negative gelmemek - not to come gelmemeye - to not to come gelmemeyi - not to come (obj.) gelmemekte - in not coming gelmemekten - from not comimg gelmemekle - by/with not coming

09.09.08, 08:02	#10 (permalink)
Kullanıcı Profili SERDEM S.Moderators Kullanıcı Bilgileri Üyelik tarihi: Mar 2008 Mesajlar: 7.687 Konular: 6910 Puan Grafiği Rep Puanı:11076 Rep Gücü:20 RD: Teşekkür Ettiği Teşekkür: 47 464 Mesajına 935 Kere Teşekkür Edlidi :	The use of the various infinitive forms is best shown by example: Kesmeyi bıraktı - He stopped (the) cutting Sürmeyi öğreniyorum - I am learning (the driving) to drive Gülmemeye çalışıyorlar - They are trying not to (to) laugh

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